Saturday, July 2, 2011

ART GROUPS

As mentioned previoiusly, I recently attended my annual painting retreat with 5 other wonderful ladies. This was our 10th year – wow!

Then, in looking at some other blogs, I see that Mollie Jones and Jant Belich have also recently posted about a trip they made with other woman they met via blogs and an online art group.

It gives me great pleasure each year to get together with my friends and paint for a week. What began as a painting trip has turned out to be so much more and is a highlight of my year. We’ve had our ups and downs, shed tears of grief and tears of laughter, and through it all have continuously improved our painting skills. We are strong, resilient women who have grown to love each other as sisters.

Do any of you have a group that you paint with, either on a regular basis or annually? I’d love to hear about your experience.

If you don’t have a group of painting friends, I would strongly recommend that you find a group to paint with – or create a group! You will reap rewards not only from learning painting techniques, getting input through critiques and improving your paintings, but also from the friendships you will make.

6 comments:

Deb, I have several groups with whom I pain, and they are an invaluable part of my life, to say nothing of my artistic life. I find most artists to be among the most sharing and kind people ever; there is a sensitivity you find in this group of humans that I have not found in other groupings.

I paint every Thursday afternoon with my community art group and we have shared tears over sick and lost members, much laughter, and just generally solve the problems of the world while we paint. There is nothing more valuable than being a part of a group that misses you when you cannot be there, shares your concerns, encourages you when you are discouraged, gently critiques your work when it needs it and just are the best friends ever!

How right you are Debs. It is wonderful when Anita comes over to stay for a long weekend and we work en plein air together somewhere delightful in Norfolk. Then on Thursdays I have my ladies group come for an afternoon sketching - mostly in doors - together but July we always have a garden sketching party with pimms and strawberries and cream scones and in August go and sketch down by the river. Such fun working with others.

Susan - sounds like your group is also wonderful! ("Gentle" critiques - hmmmm, maybe I need to meet with your group!!!!!)Joan - I always love your posts about you and your friend painting, and your garden painting with your Thursday sketch group. It always sounds so genteel and lovely - I paint a mental picture of you in a lovely English garden!Vikki - hope you can find (or create) a group of like-minded people.Jeanette - good luck with your new group - and love the fact you already have exhibitions scheduled!Thank you all for your comments.